How will the world become flat?

How will the world become flat and how will people gather together? At that time, will the earth’s core be visible and boiling, and will there be no space (outer space)? In descriptions of the Day of Judgment or the Hereafter, it is mentioned that people will gather and the earth will become flat. It is also said that the earth’s core will be visible and boiling, and that there will be no space or emptiness. How is this possible?

Dear Brother / Sister,

When all the verses are considered together, it will be understood that the issue of the earth becoming flat does not describe our present world, but a situation describing the plain of the Gathering when the Day of Judgment takes place.

When Surah Ṭā-Hā verses 105–112 are considered as a whole, it will be seen that matters such as the destruction of the mountains, the flattening of the earth, the calling and gathering of people, and standing for account in the Divine presence are discussed. That is, the subject relates to the plain of the Gathering, not the physical structure of the present world.

Indeed, in another verse it is stated:

“On the Day when the earth will be changed to a different earth, and so will be the heavens…” (Yusuf Ali, Ibrahim 14:48)

Thus, it is clearly understood that the earth mentioned here is no longer the earth we know now, but a scene of the Hereafter, a plain of the Gathering.

The meanings of the related verses are as follows:

“They ask thee concerning the Mountains: say, ‘My Lord will uproot them and scatter them as dust;
He will leave them as plains smooth and level;
Thou shalt see in them no curve or ruggedness.’

On that Day will they follow the Caller (straight): no crookedness (can they show) him: all sounds shall humble themselves in the presence of (Allah) Most Gracious, and thou shalt hear nothing but the tramp of their feet.

On that Day shall no intercession avail except for those for whom permission has been granted by (Allah) Most Gracious and whose word is acceptable to Him.

He knows what is before them, and what is behind them, while they encompass Him not with their knowledge.

(All) faces shall be humbled before (Him)—the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal: hopeless indeed will be the man that carries iniquity (on his back).

But he who works deeds of righteousness, and has faith, will have no fear of injustice or of any curtailment (of what is his due).”
(Surah Ṭā-Hā 20:105–112)

People used to ask the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who informed them that worldly life is temporary and that a Day of Reckoning awaits them, questions about the Day of Judgment.

Within this framework, a question directed to the Messenger of Allah or one that occupied people’s minds is addressed, and a description of the Day of Judgment is presented.

Here, by answering the question of what will happen to the mountains—which are the most prominent elevations on earth—it is stated that a transformation beyond our present imagination will occur. However, attention is then drawn to the fact that what is truly important is the treatment that a person will personally face.

What do the verses really describe?

The subject is the scene of the Gathering after the Day of Judgment. In summary, the verses describe that the mountains will be destroyed, the earth will be transformed into another form suitable for the Gathering and made completely flat, people will gather by following the Caller, there will be no escape, and there will be reckoning in the Divine presence. In other words, this is not a lesson in physics, but a description of the scene of the Day of Reckoning.

What does the expression “the earth will become flat” mean?

The key expressions here are: “a level plain” and “no curve or ruggedness.” This means that in the new world of the Hereafter describing the Day of Gathering, there are no mountains, no valleys, no unevenness—everywhere is a single, open plain. However, this does not mean that “the earth will become a flat disk,” nor is it a discussion about the geometry of the planet.

This is entirely an expression describing “a flat ground prepared for the Gathering.”

How will people gather?

The verse, “On that Day will they follow the Caller…” is explained more clearly in hadiths as: “People will be gathered on a white, flat land like refined flour, on which there will be no landmarks such as mountains or stones.” (Bukhari, Riqaq, 44)

This means there will be no place to hide, no geographical barriers, and everyone will be visible.

Thus, the question “how will people gather?” becomes unnecessary. Because if there are no obstacles, gathering is a natural result.

The claim that “the core will be visible and boiling”

This point is very important, but this expression does not exist in the Qur’an. The Qur’an only says:

“And the earth throws up her burdens.” (Surah Zilzal 99:2)

In tafsir, this is explained as the dead, treasures, and hidden things. However, there is no meaning such as “the earth will split and its core will come out” or “it will boil like lava.” Because the earth will be recreated in a different form suitable for the plain of the Gathering.

As for the issue of “there will be no space”:

The Qur’an mentions expressions such as “the sky is split” and “the sky is folded up.” That is, the cosmic order is disrupted, the current system of our world ends, and a new order suitable for the Gathering is established.

Can these events be explained by the laws of physics?

No, these events cannot be explained by the laws we currently experience in this world. Moreover, this is not the purpose. As also stated in the verse “the earth will be changed to another earth,” this is no longer the world we know; it is a scene of the Hereafter. Therefore, questions like “how will the earth’s core be seen?” or “where will space go?” belong to worldly physics, and applying them to the Hereafter is incorrect.

Just as a baby in the womb cannot understand the outside world according to its narrow environment—because its perception is limited—in the same way, we cannot fully comprehend the Hereafter with the conditions of this world. The descriptions of the Day of Judgment in the Qur’an are not to give physical details, but to convey the severity of that Day and the certainty of reckoning.

Therefore, we accept the verses as they are and try to understand them, but we do not force their details into worldly measures.

In summary:

• The verse describes that mountains will be destroyed, the earth will be flattened, people will gather, and the reckoning will begin.
• It is not correct to try to explain the descriptions of the Hereafter exactly with worldly physics.
• The purpose of the Qur’an is not to teach physical mechanisms, but to prepare people for the Day of Reckoning.

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